Wine Tasting

Porto Carras Chalkidiki Winery & Wines

The hilly areas on which the vineyards lies, are characterized by excellent ecological conditions for the cultivation of many grape varieties suitable for wine making. The cultivation of the slopes is carried out by experienced personnel familar with the task at hand. In its present form the vineyard of Domain Porto Carras covers an area of 400 ha. and is the largest in Greece and one of the largest in Europe. Some of the finest Greek white grape varieties are cultivated, such as Asyrtiko, Athini, Malagousia and Roditis. Amongst the red varieties the ancient Greek Limnia, today Limnio, dominates, alongside some of the finest French varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, which have adapted wonderfully to the hospitable enviroment of the region.

Semeli Attica Winery & Wines

Semeli estate in northern Attica in the foothills of Mount Pendeli. It was in this area that, according to Greek mythology, Dionysos the God of wine first taught man the cultivation of the vine and introduced the culture of wine to the Greeks. It is certainly accepted that the area was well known to the ancient Greeks for producing top quality wines and the remains of the theatre of Dionysos can still be visited today. In honour of this association the winery and its wines were given the name of "Semeli", Dionysos’ mother.

The vineyards, of 60 hectares, have been progressively re-planted since 1980 with international varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc as well as the local Savatiano. The vines are trellised and pruned in the Guyot style. The vineyards are at 450 m. altitude where cold winters and cool nights during the sunny summers provide ideal conditions for the ripening of the grapes.

In 1996 a new tasting room was inaugurated at the Semeli estate and visitors are now welcome for tours and tastings. The estate, being an hour from the centre of Athens, is ideally situated for foreign tourists and locals have been enthusiastically joining in activities such as book presentations, poetry evenings, cookery courses and exhibitions by local artists.